The Tax Court rules that a noncustodial father is not entitled to claim
the dependency exemption because the custodial-parent (mother) failed
to complete Form 8332, releasing the exemption and dissolution judgment,
which father attached to return, was not a sufficient alternative because
it did not contain substantially same information as the form 8332 does.

This is a really common situation, where a parent wrongfully claims a child
or children on their tax return despite the fact the other parent is entitled
to it that year according to the terms of a Judgment or Order. It holds
that despite the language of a Judgment, without Form 8332 signed and
attached to the return, the IRS will not recognize the dependency deduction.

You still have your claims against the other parent for the financial damage
this costs you in terms of the increase taxes, however, but now you have
avoidable attorney fees or must waste your own valuable time enforcing
your rights in taking her back to court.

Thomas v. Commissioner (1/19/10) TCM 2010-11, No. 17922-08 (Vasquez) 2010
WL 174107 illustrates the perils of not handling how you will get your
spouse to cooperate long before April 15th.

When Arizona resident (F) was divorced from M in 6/94, their disso judgment
awarded custody of their 3-year-old daughter (C) to M; F was awarded 30
days of visitation in summer, plus reasonable visitation in C's state
of residence. F was also ordered to pay child support of $400/mo through AZ T/CT.

Disso judgment further provided that M would claim dependency exemption
and child tax credit for tax year 1995 and succeeding odd-numbered years,
while F would claim exemption and credit in even-numbered years if he
was current in his child-support payments. M was required to execute necessary
forms to permit F to claim exemption and credit, but only if F's child-support
payments were not in arrears.

In 2006, F was not delinquent in his child-support payments for C, who
lived with M in Ohio. On his 2006 federal income tax return, prepared
by CPA, F claimed dependency exemption and child care credit, but CPA
subsequently notified him that his return was rejected from electronic
filing because someone else claimed dependency exemption. CPA then filed
F's paper return, to which F attached copy of disso judgment, but
not IRS Form 8332 exemption release. IRS sent deficiency notice to F,
claiming that he was not entitled to claim either dependency exemption
or child tax credit. F then petitioned U.S. Tax Court for relief, but
TAX COURT RULES FOR IRS.

Tax Ct finds that (1) per IRC §152(e), F, as non-custodial parent,
was not entitled to claim dependency exemption unless

(a) C received more than half of her support from M and F,

(b) M and F were divorced, separated, or living separate and apart for
last 6 mos. of 2006,

(c) C was in custody of either M or F more than half of 2006, and

(d) M, as custodial parent, released dependency exemption and F attached
Form 8332 release or a document conforming to its substance to his return;
(2) F could meet conditions (a), (b), and (c), but not (d); (3) disso
judgment did not qualify as conforming document because it lacked Social
Security numbers for M and F, M's signature was not dated, and release
of exemption was conditioned on F's being current with child-support
payments; (4) F could not claim dependency exemption; and (5) F's
being unable to claim dependency exemption meant that he was also ineligible
to claim child tax credit. Tax Ct concludes that although it is sympathetic
to F's predicament, it is bound by statutes and regs as written.

Comments

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